Distracted Driver Accident Lawyers in Maryland

Personal Injury Attorneys Holding Distracted Drivers Accountable

Have you suffered considerable losses in a devastating
car accident because another motorist took their eyes off the road? It doesn’t
matter whether they committed only a “small” mistake—they
should compensate you for all resulting damages, including medical bills
and lost wages.

At Alpert Schreyer Poe, LLC, we have helped many clients win significant
monetary settlements and verdicts in their Maryland distracted driving
car accident claims. If you’re looking for experienced, aggressive Maryland
personal injury attorneys who can help to secure your financial stability for the future,
look no further.

Call us today at
(301) 812-4777 for a free, confidential consultation.

The Numbers on Distracted Driving

To this day, too many people do not take the dangers of distracted driving
seriously. They continue to allow themselves to become distracted because
they don’t believe a short period of time, like five seconds, can
do any harm, but the sad reality is that it can.

An info-based website created by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
(NHTSA) demonstrates the reality of driving while distracted across the
U.S. through the following recent statistics:

20 percent of injury traffic crashes involved distracted driving

448,000 people suffered injuries in distracted driving crashes

5,474 people died in distracted driving accidents

995 people died in distracted driving crashes that involved
cell phone use

58 percent of traffic crashes in Maryland involve at least one distracted driver

50 percent of distracted drivers who cause accidents are younger than 30 years old

Males are more likely to drive while distracted, as well as significantly
more likely to suffer injuries or fatalities in distracted driving crashes

Distracted driving accidents happen more often during weekdays and between
the hours of noon and 7 p.m.

Despite distracted driving prevention and education programs in Maryland,
accidents and injuries continue to be a constant risk on the roads. At
any moment, a distracted driver may impact your life in many ways. It
is important to understand what causes distracted driving and what to
do after a crash.

Common Driving Distractions

A distraction is anything that takes a person’s attention off of
driving. The NHTSA divides distractions into three main categories: 1)
visual, which involves taking one’s eyes off the road; 2) manual,
which involves taking one’s hands off the steering wheel; and 3)
cognitive, which involves taking one’s mind off the task of driving.

Common distractions that result in one or any combination of these three
types include:

Talking on a cell phone

Texting

Grooming

Eating

Drinking

Reading

Talking to passengers

Dealing with children and/or pets

Watching a video

When we consider distracted driving in today’s day and age, we often
think about texting, social media posting, taking selfies, checking email,
browsing the internet, or any other text-based action on our smartphones.
While these are all highly dangerous distractions, it is important to
remember that not all distractions involve technology.

A young mother may have an upset child in the back seat and may keep looking
back and handing toys to her child, trying to soothe him. The mother may
mean well, but she also may not realize that she takes her eyes off the
road every time she turns around, takes her hands off the wheel to hand
him toys, and has her attention off of driving since she is so focused
on her child. All of these distractions can result in a terrible crash
and severe injuries to others.

When a driver is behind the wheel, they should do everything in their power
to remain focused on the road and to avoid distraction. Even if a driver
is not on their smartphone, they should still be fully responsible if
they cause a crash due to other distractions.

What Is Jake’s Law?

When a person allows himself or herself to become distracted, they are
making a choice, just like when a person chooses to get behind the wheel
after they’ve had a few drinks. Eating and drinking, grooming, turning
around and talking to passengers, and texting while driving all have the
potential to cause serious injury to pedestrians, bicyclists, and other
motorists.

Up until October 1, 2014, in Maryland, distracted drivers that caused accidents
simply had to pay fines in accordance with the laws of the time. This
is no longer the case. Thanks to Jake’s Law, named after a child
killed by a distracted driver back in 2011, distracted drivers in Maryland
today could face tough penalties, including a jail sentence of up to a
year, a fine of up to $5,000 and 12 points against their license. Supporters
of Jake’s Law hope the bill’s recent passage will serve as
a distracted driving deterrence for drivers throughout the state.

While many people learn of the potential penalties of distracted driving
and refrain from distracting activities whenever possible, the law does
not deter many others. Drivers continue to look at their phones and take
their eyes and focus away from the act of driving. While an arrest and
criminal penalties may punish a driver, they do little to compensate victims
injured by the distracted driver. Instead, injured victims should discuss
how to take necessary legal action with an experienced personal injury
lawyer right away.

Distracted Driving Injuries & Losses

Distracted drivers often do not have the opportunity to slow down or stop
before a collision, as they usually have no idea that a crash is about
to happen. For this reason, the injuries resulting from distracted driving
accidents can be severe and the losses extensive.

The following are some common car accident injuries involved in cases we handle:

The value of car accident claims can vary substantially depending on the
nature and severity of the accident-related injuries.

Holding Distracted Drivers Liable

Many drivers make the choice to be distracted while driving. To hold them
accountable for their actions, the injured victims of distracted drivers
must proactively decide to file an insurance claim or a personal injury
lawsuit, as is their right. If you or loved one suffered injuries in a
car crash caused by a distracted driver, you may be entitled to pursue
compensation for your losses. At Alpert Schreyer Poe, our Maryland car
accident attorneys know that distracted driving accidents are preventable
and are committed to helping their clients obtain maximum compensation
for their injuries.

The first step in standing up for a distracted driving accident victim
is often to file an insurance claim with the negligent driver’s
auto insurance. Drivers in Maryland are required to have a minimum amount
of liability insurance to cover injuries they cause in crashes. However,
insurance companies are usually not very forthcoming when it comes to
offering accident victims the amount they deserve. It is always wise to
have an experienced car accident lawyer handling your claim.

Our attorney can do the following:

Calculate the full amount of what you lost due to your accident

Present evidence of fault if the insurance company challenges liability

Communicate and negotiate with the insurance adjuster

Ensure you never accept a settlement offer that is inadequate to cover
your losses

Insurance companies have many tactics to convince unrepresented car accident
victims to take less than they deserve. Our lawyers work to make sure
that does not happen.

In some cases, an insurance company refuses to offer enough to cover your
losses, and our lawyers can take further action and file a personal injury
lawsuit in civil court. We handle the entire litigation process, working
continually to get you the settlement agreement you need. Our team does
not hesitate to take a case to court when it is necessary to protect the
rights of our clients.

Contact Our Maryland Car Accident Lawyers for More Information Today

Every driver should know the risks of harm they create when they use a
smartphone or engage in other distracting activities while driving. When
someone’s negligence suddenly disrupts your life, it is important
that you discuss your rights with a skilled personal injury attorney as
soon as possible. At Alpert Schreyer Poe, we regularly represent clients
injured in many types of crashes and those suffering from many types of
injuries. If you would like to learn your options for taking legal action
and seeking compensation, please do not hesitate to contact our firm.

Alpert Schreyer Poe Disclaimer: The information you obtain at this site is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice. You should consult an attorney for advice regarding your individual situation. We invite you to contact us and welcome your calls, letters and electronic mail. Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. Please do not send any confidential information to us until such time as an attorney-client relationship has been established. This web site is not intended to solicit clients for matters outside of the state of Maryland. We serve all of Maryland including Prince George’s County, Bowie, Chillum, Clinton, Fort Washington, Greenbelt, Upper Marlboro, Frederick County, Frederick, Charles County, Waldorf, White Plains, St. Mary’s County, Lexington Park, Calvert County, Anne Arundel County, Annapolis, Glen Burnie, Laurel, Odenton, Pasadena, Severn, Montgomery County, Bethesda, Gaithersburg, Germantown, Rockville, Silver Spring.